Chapter 273 Judgement

Looking at the old man and the young boy who felt wronged, Emperor Liang, who wanted to change, thought that since they were already here, he might as well judge the case for them.

He rubbed his brows and sat on the armchair, "Lord Ouyang, please stand up and talk first."

Ouyang Boshan stood up tremblingly as if he had been pardoned. Thinking of the grievances he had suffered, he raised his sleeves and wiped his eyes vigorously.

Emperor Liang looked at his tangled beard, stifled a smile, and turned to look at the Imperial College's chief academic officer, who had remained silent. "Jiang, what do you think of today's incident?"

Jiang Jijiu bowed slightly, "Your Majesty, during every New Year holiday, the Hongwen Academy has always assigned homework based on grades... It's not intentional to embarrass the princess... Master Ouyang is right about this."

"......" Ouyang Boshan's bent back straightened instantly.

Yes! He is right!

He wouldn't deliberately embarrass a child!

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze.

When Concubine Li saw that Lord Jiang fell silent after saying only this one sentence, her brows furrowed.

If it weren't for Tang Bao, her daughter Miao Yi would still be deceived by that scumbag and digging wild vegetables in the orchid garden halfway up the mountain...

She took the risk and quickly stepped forward to pick up the tearful little girl, holding her little arm and showing her in front of everyone:

"Rules are dead, but people are alive!"

"We are not all ignorant of right and wrong. Look at the bag on the princess's wrist... Is this fake? Could it be that so many ministers are siding with a little girl?"

"Princess Zhaoning is only four years old, and we're not rushing her to take the imperial examination. Isn't recuperation more important than learning to read?"

Little Tang Bao rested his head on Concubine Li's shoulder, feeling somewhat guilty. Her wrist was tired, not from homework, but from drawing talismans...

Seeing the pitiful appearance of the little guy, the concubines all started to chime in:

"That's right! Reciting the Thousand Character Classic forty times is way too much! Princess Zhaoning's wrists haven't fully grown yet!"

"Alas! I heard that copying books will make you stupid. What a waste of the little princess's cleverness..."

“…”

Rong Fei, who rarely spoke in public, stood up for the first time and said, "Everyone, please be patient. Since Master Ouyang has promised the princess a make-up exam, I'm sure he won't really ask the princess to copy the Thousand Character Classic forty times..."

She turned to look at Ouyang Boshan, raised the corners of her lips, and said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes: "Master Ouyang, don't you agree?"

Ouyang Boshan looked at Concubine Rong with gratitude, then realized his impoliteness and bowed quickly: "Your Majesty is right. Since I have allowed the princess to take the make-up exam, I will assign her homework based on her results."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jijiu hurriedly took out Xiao Tangbao's paper and quickly reviewed it with several ministers.

Seeing that although Princess Zhaoning's handwriting was immature, the paper was very neat, the elders unanimously agreed to give Tang Bao an extra ten points for the paper.

Final score: 80 points.

Jiang Jijiu presented the examination paper to Emperor Liang and immediately announced, "According to the rules, Princess Zhaoning must copy the Thousand Character Classic three times. I wonder if the Princess and Master Ouyang have any objections?"

"......" Upon hearing this, Ouyang Boshan immediately stepped forward and said in a loud voice: "Those who are absent without reason will have their homework doubled! Princess..."

"I am guilty!" Chuntai suddenly emerged from the crowd and knelt down upon entering, kowtowed heavily. "Yesterday, the princess arrived at the entrance of Hongwenguan. Because someone blocked the road and asked for help, the princess was kind enough to ask for leave on their behalf..."

"It was my negligence that led Master Ouyang to mistakenly believe that Princess Zhaoning had deliberately skipped school and the exam... Your Majesty, I beg you to punish me!"

Emperor Liang: “…”

The old queen's eyes turned, and she immediately continued, "I see... I always said that Tang Bao was a very sensible child. How could she skip school for no reason?"

"That's right..." the ladies echoed, "Tangbao is a smart and sensible child. Every time he doesn't go to school, he always sends someone to ask for leave... It must be the servants who didn't serve him well enough and made a mistake!"

Emperor Liang lowered his eyes and glanced at Chuntai quietly: "Since that's the case, I'll fine you half a year's salary as a warning to others!"

"I accept the punishment." Chuntai kowtowed and breathed a sigh of relief.

Compared to making the little princess happy, this little bit of money is nothing! ?

"......" Ouyang Boshan looked at them in amazement as they sang the same tune.

I thought to myself, isn’t this biased?!

He recognized Chuntai. She was the housekeeper of Prince Qing's mansion. It was said that she was more particular about food, clothing and other expenses than the ladies in the palace. Would she care about a few taels of silver?

"Your Majesty... that old minister's beard is just like this..."

“I can understand that Pavilion Master Ouyang locked the door,” Yun Che suddenly said, his voice cold enough to quench ice, “but openly covering my daughter’s mouth… Do you admit to this heinous crime of disrespect?”

Ouyang Boshan's eyes went dark, and he knelt hurriedly: "Your Highness, please understand! This old minister was just anxious at the moment, and had no intention of offending you!"

Everyone: “…” If you offend the princess, you will be beaten with a stick!

With Ouyang Boshan's physical condition, it is not known whether he can survive the New Year after being beaten!

Little Tang Bao asked Concubine Li to put him down, walked up to Ouyang Boshan, and bowed deeply to him: "Master Ouyang, I'm sorry! Tang Bao shouldn't have helped you trim your beard without your permission!"

"You must be right to ask Tang Bao's father to redeem Tang Bao..."

"Tang Bao knows he was wrong. He will think twice before doing anything in the future and will never try to be clever all the time!"

As she spoke, she presented a 'calming talisman' with both hands: "The owner must be very angry with Tang Bao. If you are too angry to sleep at night, put this talisman under your pillow, and it will ensure you sleep well for several months!"

Glancing at the talisman, Eunuch Pei An immediately stepped forward and chimed in: "Since it's a reward from the princess, Pavilion Master Ouyang, please take it!"

Seeing Ouyang Boshan take the talisman with both hands, he hurriedly continued in a shrill voice:

"I'm sure Pavilion Master Ouyang has also heard that our princess's talismans are selling for five hundred taels of silver each on the market! And the demand far exceeds the supply..."

"My dear little princess, I sincerely apologize to you!"

Ouyang Boshan: "......"

Tang Bao turned to look at Yun Che, gently shaking his sleeve with her little hand: "Daddy, don't be angry! Pavilion Master Ouyang didn't offend Tang Bao. Pavilion Master Ouyang was just playing a game with Tang Bao!"

"......" Prince Qing panted heavily, bent down and picked up his precious daughter, "Daddy knows! Daddy is not angry! He will not be punished..."